Protective device



Jill 28, 1931. J. R. THORP 1,816,267

PROTECTIVE, DEVICE Filed March 2, 1928 III Patented July 28, 1931 V UNITED STATES PATENT o c I mm. E. THORP, or ,wEsT ALLIS, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR To THE EuLToN COMPANY,

oEwEsT ALLIS, WISCONSIN, A c EronATIoN OF WISCONSIN PROTECTIVE nEvIoE Application filed March 2,

. The present invention relates in general to I improvements in appliances for preventing the unauthorized removal of automobile accessorles'or the like, and relates more speclfir cally to improvements in the construction of devices for frustrating the attempted theft of the valve parts and of the tire itself by deflation and subsequent removal thereof from the supporting wheel rim, the improvement being especially: applicable as a protective device for spare tires and parts thereof.

An object'of the invention is to provide improved means for preventing the unauthorized removal of tire valve elements, or the possible deflation and subsequent removal of 7 an automobiletire, especially in cases where the tire is mounted upon a spare wheel or rim secured to the body ofthe vehicle. Another obj e ct of the invention is to provide a simple and efiective anti-theft devicefor simultaneously locking a tire and wheel to the body'of a car while at the same time preventing tampering with the tire valve. A further ob]ect of the invention is to provide an effective manufacturedinfquantity atminimum cost, and which will present a neatand inconspicnous appearance when in use. object of the invention is to provide a tire valve protector in the form of a simple accessory which maybe applied or removed by a novice without the aid of toolsof any kind. These and other objects of the, invention will be apparent from the following'detailed description. 1 7 A clear conception of an embodimentof the invention and of the mode of manufacturing and of applying devices constructed in accordance therewith, may be had by referring apart of this specification in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts in the several views.

fFig. 1 is a fragmentary 'rear'elevation of a tire embraced wire wheel and its supporting structure, showing the improved protective device partly in section.

Fig. 2' is a'fragmentary'central vertical section through the tire, wheel and a portion of the protective device.

protective appliance W'hichmay be readilyto the drawings accompanying and forming in order to clamp the stem to the rim, and

1923. Serial no. 258,492.

While the invention has been specifically illustrated in the drawings, as applied in the form of an accessory especially adapted to I protect thejspare tire of the more recent models of Ford automobiles, it is not contemplated to restrict the scope of this application by such specific disclosure. The wheel specifically shown comprises a hub 3, a rim 4 secured to the hubby means of wire spokes 15, and a tire consisting of a casing 5 and an inner tube 6 embracing the rim 4. The hub 3 of the'wheel is formed of sheet metal and is provided with a series of holes which normally receive the clamping'studs by means of which the wheel is secured to an 05 axle, but which are also adapted'to fit over retaining studs 14 secured to a wheel car rier or support 10 when the wheel is used as a spare. lVhen used as a spare, the hub 3 of the wheel is-retained in position upon the studs l l'and thesupport '10, by means of ordinary nuts 16 coactingwith all of the studs excepting one. Thislatter stud 14 may be provided with a special nut llhaving a hole therethrough for the purpose of enabling the nut-11 to be locked to an adjacent spoke 15 with a padlock 13 so as toprevent Still another unauthorized removal of the wheel. The casing 5 of the tire coacts with the wheelrim 4 in the usual manner as shown in' Fig. 2, and is removable from the rim onlywhen the inner tube 6 has been defiated. The inner tube 6 is provided with a threaded valve stem 7 which penetrates thewheel rim 4 and "constitutes a support for a valve cap and valve inside of common construction. The

valve stem 7 is held firmly in position by means of a special nut 9 ofwell knownstructure, having internal threads cooperable di-.

rectly with the threads of the valve'stem 7 also having external threads formed for the reception of avalve enclosing cap, not sh0wn.- 7 The improved protective device comprises a tubular element 2 having one end provided with an anti-rattle socket 8 and having its opposite end 12 flattened and provided with a lateral perforation or hole. 'The'socket 8 may be formed of any suitable material such 10( as rubber or metal and may be attached to the end of the element 2 or to the interior thereof some distance beyond the end, in any convenient manner. This socket may also be provided with an internal thread adapted to coact with the external thread of the clamphig mutt, ur it maybe formed to merely slip over either the entire nut 9 or the externally threaded portion thereof only. when torming the protective element of tubing, the end lQmmy be flattened d bent as shown, but in any event, the length of the element 2 should be sufficient to cause the same to reach from the special nut 11 to the rim 4 so that the socketed end will substantially-enclose the valvestem 7 and thepurts associated therewith.

'llhe-niode of applying the improved pro- -teetive device is so simpletl it adetailed deqeriptien thereof hardly necessary. Vhen the Wheel has been properly positioned upon the carrier or'support 10 and the 'tire-ass0- minted With-the wheel hasbeen inflated, the special nut 11 may be appliedtoone ofvthe 2 :elaniping studs 14in the unanner illustrated.

ilhegsocketed end of the element 2 may .then

he slipped ovei and applied to the valve .stemfl, and-the opposite end lfi thereot'suhgequently'locked to the special nut 11 with 'the-aiddf en ordinary pad lock 13. With the devicethusapplied andloclied in .positien i will be apparent that three importantresults are obtained. *Inthciirst place, the elenientQ totally encloses and confines ,the-removable parts of the tire valve thereby preventing removal thereof without rewlensing the loek 13. In the second place, the element 2 when locked in position, positive- Z ly prevents deflation oi the inner tube 6 vtlireugh the valve stem 7 and avoids subsequent remov-alotthecasing 5. ln the-third ,plaemaviththe element 2 in engageinentwith .the valve stem and locked to the nut 1 1,-re-

-,moval-of the nut 11 and hence of-the wheel, lisp'ositively prevented since the lock :13- and -elei'nent 2 Will notipermit rotation of the nut ,Llupon theudjacent stud l -l. When the ssocketfi is provided with internal threads enacting with the externally thre'aded porj-tio1rof the nuti), andthe partsare assem- -Mecl and-locked as shoWn, it isimjpossihle ytD-BQ-HIOVG the valve nut 9and hence'also impossible toremovc the inner tube 6 withmit destruction thereof.

Elie-improved protective device is vobvij-eusly "capable of use wherever the relative 'dnmtionsof-the valve stem 7 and clamping jstuds 14, is such as to'permit its application.

In the more recent models of Ford automohi'les, desired relation between Tthese warts-exists, and-the nut ll- -a nd lock'I3' are .ordinarilyiprovided, thereby permitting atitaininelit of the improved 1 resultshy merely applying t'he element 2. The elementQ may "-Jalsobe manufia'etured from metal "tubingat scribed, for various modifications within the Jtire supporting rim rigidly attached to ;a

very moderate cost and may be applied with out the aid of tools of any kind. l/Vhen the element 2 has been applied, it presents an extremely inconspicuous and neat appearance, and the device may he removed at any time by merely releasing the wheel .lock 13.

It should he understood that it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact details of construction herein shown and de- T5 scope o'f the appendedclaims may occur to persons skilled in the art.

It isclaimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent 1. An article of manufacture comprising, a loekingdevice having a tubular -.end portion movable -.outwardl-y over a wheel tire valve -and having another ,portion cooperable .di- :rectly withthe .hub :fastening of the .tire supporting wheel to prevent. deflation'of the :tire when the wheel is i'lf'astenedito its support.

2. An article of unanuiacture comprising, .alocking device having .an outer solid .tubu- {lar portion formed .to conceal a wheel tire vulvennd having aninner portion cooperable directly with the hub fastening .of the tire simporting wheel to prevent 'deflationof the tire through said valve when the wheel is fastened .to its support.

An articleofmanufacture comprising, a $15 lockingelement having anend socket-formed .t'o slip-.endwiseover .a wheeltire valve stem and having its opposite end cooperable .di-

rectly with the hub fastening or the .tire supporting-wheel so as-to prevent .defla'tionbf 1 the'tire-through the:valve stem whenthehub .fasteningis effective.

4. .An article of manufacture I comprising,

aloe-hing elementhaving a socket at one end formed to .directlysengagethe threads of. a wheel tire valve. nut: and having. azholeat its opposite end cooperable with the hubef-astem ing of the tire supporting wheel s0-ast0 prevent removal of said-element from-the valve stem -when confined by said hub fastening.

'5. In combination with a Wheel \having a the supporting. rim rigidly attachedtoa hub,

el-pneumatic tire coactingdirectly with said rim and having a valve stemextending .in-

wardly through an opening in the .rim, and .1.15

an element having. one end (fitted over .asaid stemand having its opposite end formedfor coaetion with. a hub clampingstud.

6. .Incombination with wheel having-a Jae huh, a5pneumatic. tire coacting withsaid rim and having .a valve .stem projecting" therefrom, means for attaching thehub of said wheel toa support, rand .a single. elementsembracing said stem and coactingdirectly with .325 said attaclnng means.

7. In combination 'Wlth a wvheel havi-ng-a .tiresupporting I'llIlEflIlCl El hub attached thereto, a tire coacti-ngwith said. rim' and having an inflating valvestem projecting toward said hub, a hub fastening for said wheel, and a tubular element having one end enclosing said valve stem and having its opposite end confined by said fastening.

8. An article of manufacture comprising,

. a locking device having a tubular end portion formed to conceal a wheel tire valve and hav ing an opposite end portion cooperable with the hub fastening of the tire supporting Wheel so as to prevent deflation of the tire through said valve when said device is confined by said hub fastening, said device being disposed entirely Within the wheel rim.

9. An article of manufacture comprising, a locking device disposable entirely within the rim of a tire supporting wheel and having an outer socketed portion formed to embrace the tire valve and an inner portion 00- actable with the hub fastening of the wheel to prevent deflation of the tire through said valve.

10. A device of the class described comprising, a tubular element having one end formed for the reception of a tire valve stem and having its opposite end disposed adjacent to the hub of the tire supporting Wheel, and a lock for attaching said opposite end to a hub fastener and for preventing removal of said element from the valve stem.

11. A device of the'class described comprising, a tubular element having an end socketed for the endwise reception of a tire valve stem and having its opposite end disposed adjacent to the hub of the tire supporting Wheel, and a lock for attaching said opposite end to a wheel hub fastener.

In testimony whereof, the signature of the inventor is aflixed hereto.

JOEL R. THORP. 

